This series of films was made for the cinema at Merton Park Studios.
In early 1960, it was announced that Anglo Amalgamated had acquired the rights to ninety Edgar Wallace stories and had arranged for two companies to make them into films. The Film Producers' Guild at Merton Park with Jack Greenwood as producer were to make twenty, while Independent Artists with Julian Wintle and Leslie Parkyn were scheduled to make thirty. In fact the only one the latter made was
#3, at Beaconsfield Studios, and it was Merton Park who went on to make about forty genuine Edgar Wallace stories.
The standard varies according to the scriptwriter and director, but the best are very good indeed.
Strictly speaking, the first listed (Crossroads to Crime) was not part of this series, though when the series was screened on television, it had added to it the Edgar Wallace haunting opening sequence with the bust of the great thriller writer. Most of the later films (from #40 on) were similarly included in this tv screening, though they do not have the bust of Edgar in the opening titles.
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The Twisted Candle (1960)
Good screenplay by Philip Mackie featuring Francis de Wolff, who often appeared like a left over from silent screen villainy. He plays Koradis who contacts Scotland Yard as he wants a direct phone line installed to there from his fortress-like home. Someone, he claims, has threatened to kill him.
He then orders a Mr Viney (Richard Vernon miscast) to blackmail his business colleague John (David Knight). Koradis lends John a gun, just in case, for when his blackmailer contacts him, but John is puzzled "I can't understand how this man Viney knows anything about me."
Solid old Bernard Lee plays Meredith of the Yard who investigates Viney's death. He interviews Koradis who denies all knowledge of lending John his gun, or indeed knowledge of any blackmail letter. Meredith resolves to get Koradis "if it's the last thing I do."
After a long search Viney's gun is found down a well. In his bedsit a draft of Viney's blackmail letter is discovered. Meredith decides that John is innocent but preempting a possible release from prison, John manages to escape anyway. He contacts Meredith and arranges to give himself up at 10pm. This he does, threatening to kill Koradis if he ever gets the chance. But Koradis is already dead.
So whodunnit? The other suspects are:
His secretary, daughter of one of Koradis' blackmail victims
The shadowy business partner of Koradis, Dr Griswald or
Did the butler do it for once?! Manservant Pike has been caught helping himself to his master's possessions.
Even more intriguing, how was it actually done, for Koradis is found murdered inside his locked room? And why are two candlesticks missing from the holder?
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The Malpas Mystery (1960)
Rather a mystery story, being the only one of the series produced by Julian Wintle and Leslie Parkyn, with incidental music from Elisabeth Lutyens.
The plot however is pure Edgar. Emerging from Holloway Prison is Audrey Bedford (Maureen Swanson). Dora her stepsister (Sandra Dorne) reluctantly allows her to stay, and introduces her to successful business friend Marshall (Allan Cuthbertson). Keeping a watchful eye on Audrey is Inspector Shannon (Ronald Howard) who is also investigating Marshall's recluse neighbour at 31 Norton Square, Mr Malpas who makes "mysterious sounds."
Audrey is offered a job with the Stormer Agency, despite the fact they know of her prison record. The agency has actually been engaged by rich Mr Torrington (Geoffrey Keen) who is looking for his long lost daughter and also for the man who caused him to go to jail. Dora gets wind of Torrington's search, and poses as his daughter to get his fortune. Really of course it's Audrey who should inherit his two millions!
Audrey's job takes her to Malpas' home. He sits in the dark with a mask on his face. Audrey's second visit provides a shock. No Mr Malpas, only the body of Marshall! She fetches the police but when they arrive there's no corpse in view. Inspector Shannon tears the house apart but except for a carelessly dropped diamond (!), he only finds a dubious crook called Sam (Alan Tilvern) lurking on the roof. Then Mr Marsall appears alive and well in his home next door: "you gave a very good imitation of a corpse." He shows the bullet proof jacket he is wearing.
Torrington has seen through Dora's pretence. She'd taken him to visit his real quarry, Malpas, where there'd been shots. Torrington recovered the diamonds he believes Malpas stole from him.
Audrey obtains another job, working for Torrington. She also gets attention from Marshall who offers her marriage. You see, he knows she will inherit from Torrington. She refuses, but he won't take no for an answer. He locks her in a secret room in the adjoining house, No.31.
Torrington is offered a deal- the diamonds for Audrey. So to the showdown at No.31. "Come in Torrington," cries a dismembered voice. The masked man wants Torrington's gun first. Torrington returns the diamonds, but has no sight yet of Audrey.
Meanwhile Sam has told Dora of Marshall's designs on Audrey. We learn Audrey went to jail for the crime Dora had committed and Marshall is planning to shop her: "you won't look so glamorous after five or six years in Holloway." So Dora tells Sam where Audrey is hidden. Sam arrives at 31 with Shannon, and Malpas alias Marshall barely escapes. There's a chase over the rooftops before the predictable occurs. The masked Malpas falls over the parapet, and once dead on the ground, his mask has fallen away.
There's a happy conclusion with more characters exposed- Slippery Sam is nice Mr Stormer of the Agency, and Audrey revealed as Torrington's heiress. However she retires having been offered "a purely domestic position" with kind Insp Shannon. At any rate, those are the main sub plots in this complex tale!
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The Man Who Was Nobody
The third film of the series made at Merton Park, filmed in the summer of 1960.
A story that would be nothing without Hazel Court. She plays a female private detective, a novelty to be sure, but as she fades from the second half of the plot, the reason for the whole drama rather disintegrates.
James Tynewood visits a jewellers to buy "no finer stone in London." He promptly disappears leaving a bounced cheque and other unpaid accounts. Miss Steadman is engaged by his solicitor to find him before the police. "South Africa Smith is coming back," is the cryptic message she has to relay to him.
Starting in Beatnik Chelsea she traces Alma (Lisa Daniely), the model Tynewood had taken with him to the shop. No sooner has Marjorie Steadman set up observation of Alma's from a nearby flat, than Tynewood's found strangled in the river. But why? The jeweller had just been paid- by an unknown person.
The enigmatic 'Smith' appears. "Where exactly do you fit into all this?" is Marjorie's pertinent question. "Trust me," is all she's going to get.
Alma is followed round several pubs getting progressively more tiddley. Marjorie gets pally. "She's scared of what she knows," Marjorie observes to Smith later.
At the gambling house where Alma had first been seen, Smith shows a stone to the owner, the evil Franz (Paul Eddington). Smith tells Marjorie "when it's all over I'll explain it to you."
Well, it's all to do with Franz being an expert diamond cutter. He offers Smith a pittance and they fight. All is revealed as promised. (I think)
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Partners in Crime (1961)
"A creature of habit" pores over his executive papers in his study. But not tonight- he's shot dead by an amateur safe robber. "He'd have done a better job with a tin opener," quips the investigating officer Inspector Mann (familiar Bernard Lee). Whodunnit? Freda, the distraught wife (Moira Redmond) or Frank Merril (John van Eyssen), a long term business partner at Cool-Kups? The answer is Frank - well, we are shown him paying off Holland, the Aussie 'burglar' with £3,000. Then he's back to work and gloat in his partner's office. Then to Freda and a big kiss.
Inspector Mann of course is in the dark about all this. But he's quietly confident as he tells Freda: "we'll catch up with his killer." But privately he's more worried. Only one clue- a footprint, but the usual roundup of suspects is depressingly blank. CLUELESS YARD HUNTS KILLER read the newspaper headlines. Mann gets a break when he learns Cool-Kups were facing a takeover bid. A Fleet Street columnist tells Mann Merril is a lucky man. He was facing the back door.
Holland has been careless and instead of disposing of his gun as ordered, he's allowed a couple of motorcycle yobs to steal it from his Cool-Kups lorry outside a cafe. When they try to pawn the gun Mann swoops and takes them back to show him where they'd stolen it. Frank Merril gets wind the net is closing in- he has only one option- "reach Holland before they do." Near the cafe is The Graveyard, a vehicle dump where Holland is taking a snooze in his lorry, and Frank and Freda drive up in their Bentley to finish him off , before Mann makes the customary late police arrival to pick up the pieces.
Trivia Note- Two future cast members of TV's 'Are You Being Served' have small parts- Nicholas Smith and Larry Martin.
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The Fourth Square
A plodding drama, with, sadly, little real excitement.
This is a shame, because the opening seems promising- a masked intruder enters a lady's bedroom and cracks her safe.
Investigating is Inspector Forbes (Basil Dignam) who finds a "trademark" by the safe- two squares. A similar square had been left at the scene of the cracked safe of Fiona Foster.
But this time, it's a bit of a puzzle because according to the lady of the house, Mrs Stewart (Delphi Lawrence) nothing has been stolen. However, she is lying to the police, because she doesn't want her husband to know that an emerald ring has been stolen, and this was a gift from an admirer, millionaire Alvarez. She asks her lawyer William Lawrence (Conrad Phillips) to help retrieve the ring, as she is positive it has been stolen by Henry, her husband's adviser. So Bill pays a call on Henry and makes the interesting discovery that he was also a friend of Fiona.
Sandra is another 'friend' of the beneficient Alvarez, and he had given her an emerald bracelet. Now it has been stolen, and three squares left beside her safe.
Henry is eliminated from inquiries when he's found dead in Bill's office, a knife in his back.
Bill confides his discoveries to the apparently clueless police and is resolved to discover the recipient of the fourth and final piece of Alvarez's jewellery, before she too is robbed. Could it be The Fabulous Josetta (Miriam Karlin), the millionaire's estranged wife? Or perhaps his latest girl friend, Marie, a French film starlet.
Yes, she's wearing an emerald necklace at a party in Alvarez's Berkeley Square flat. Bill chats her up, to protect her, I think. He takes her to Josetta's night club and hardly bats an eyelid when there's an abortive attempt to snatch Marie's necklace.
The necklace is safe, as Marie finally retires to bed. The intruder breaks in and is caught. Another intruder breaks in and finds Bill curled up in Marie's bed, and thus the fourth emerald is never stolen
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Man at the Carlton Tower (1961)
A copper on the beat is shot dead by a robber at a jewellers. The Yard's man, dour Spt Cowley (Allan Cuthbertson) enlists the help of ex-cop Jordan (Lee Montague). The job has all the hallmarks of another crime which Jordan believes, though he can't prove, was done by Lou Daney. But how to find Daney?
Maybe Jordan's old partner, now staying at the Carlton, Harry Stone (Alfred Burke) might know. But he's disappeared, like Daney. No sign of them. "I've got God knows how many men working on it, " declares Cowley ruefully, "all they ever bring me is expense accounts."
Jordan traces Daney's wife (Maxine Audley). "I'd like to help you catch him," she confides as they kiss. Daney's latest girl friend had been Mary Greer (Nyree Dawn Porter) who lives at Clench House. Jordan reports all this back to Cowley who complains: "you want the part of this case that consists in meeting girls."
So Jordan meets Mary, but somebody shoots at him. Who? And why is Daney now apparently "scattering clues everywhere", enough evidence to send him to the gallows? Observes Jordan to Cowley later: "every obvious explanation is completely wrong." The theory of everything being the opposite of the truth proves correct. Daney isn't alive. "I'm no good at pretending," says his ex-wife.
All completely baffling, yet the answers lie at Clench House which Daney had sold to the Greers. Here is the secret hiding place of the stolen jewellery, here's the showdown
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The Clue of The Silver Key (1961)
Moneylender Harvey Lane (Finlay Currie) is "the one man in the world I'd cheerfully murder," according to artist Jerry, who wants to marry the old man's niece Mary.
Seemingly unconnected with this is the death of Horace Tickler (Sam Kydd) who had been a waiter at the party launching Jerry's latest paintings. It must be a coincidence that Tickler had once worked as servant for wheelchair-bound Lane, who is now dependent on his new employee Binney (Patrick Cargill).
Jordan Worth had been the only purchaser of Jerry's pictures at the party, which is strange because today he's seeking to borrow money from Lane. What's more, though we don't actually see Worth, his voice sounds just like Binney's! More intrigue- Mike, Jerry's agent, is consulting Lane also, and he's using the name of Hardwick, Lane's bank manager.
Investigating Tickler's death is Supt Meredith (the reliable Bernard Lee). Calling on Lane, there's a shock as the old man has been shot dead. In his pocket is a silver key- but why silver? "It always has been sir," is the urbane Binney's comment.
When the policeman checks over Lane's business transactions it's apparent that Jordan Worth had been 'loaned' £100,000 over a period of time. Bank manager Hardwick (the real one this time, not the one that Lane met) shows Meredith all the perfectly genuine cheques. On the back of one is pencilled "Don't send any more Chinese...." Meredith puzzles over this and the identity of the fake bank manager and tries to locate Worth.
"I don't know anything about anything," admits a disconsolate Supt Meredith. A clue comes when Mary says that she believed Worth had been wearing a wig.
Finally Jerry's agent Mike is pinned down and he confesses he was part of the deception. But he has never met this Mr Worth. Mike is the man on whom Meredith decides to wage "psychological warfare" as he clearly knows more. He's dead! A man calling himself Worth was seen in the vicinity!
Meredith now pieces the clues together. The key question he informs a surprised Mary, is How did Lane like his eggs cooked? Once Meredith's learned the answer, he arranges for the traditional gathering of suspects and the truth is revealed in flashback. Tickler had recognised who Jordan Worth was, at that party, and so had to be silenced. Meredith explains how Jordan Worth had deceived Lane who had been getting very shortsighted, until Lane had become suspicious and called Meredith asking him to visit that fateful day
ToEdgar Wallace Menu
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The Sinister Man
An evocative opening as a corpse floats downstream to Parsons Green lock where it is fished out by the lock keeper (Wilfred Brambell). Two weeks is the estimated time for it having been in the Thames. Death had resulted from a blow to the neck. Superintendent Wills goes to a Consort Gate embassy where he learns the man had been a professor of oriental studies at Oxford. Three priceless tablets he had been working on had disappeared with him.
At his college the superintendent questions the staff. These include Elsa Marlowe (Jacqueline Ellis) who was last to see the prof alive. Ex-Korean POW Dr Pollard (Patrick Allen) is given complete security clearance. But Dr Tarn (John Glyn-Jones) is perhaps more dubious, since he's half Czech.
Next, to a boat hire yard in Cookham, where a boat had been hired from which the body had been dumped into the river. But before the police arrive, the owner is murdered. Another karate chop had killed him. Since only the college staff knew about the superintendent's visit there, it's back to Oxford!
Suspicion falls on a Japanese fellow when the late prof's pipe is discovered in his room. But is he guilty? And why is Dr Pollard in the money suddenly? We get a glimpse of college life as we see Pollard proposing to Elsa Marlowe. She phones the Yard when she realises who the real killer is. It's Dr Pollard. He forces her to drive with him to the Bushido Judo Club. Police surround the area but Pollard threatens another karate chop, this time on the defenceless Miss Marlowe. "I'm afraid my judo's a little rusty," admits the honest Supt Wills. Police merely hang around outside the building whilst Pollard engages him in deadly judo. But finally a copper appears with a truncheon to silence the evil Pollard.
To the embassy where the tablets are recovered, into the hands of the inevitable Burt Kwouk.
Rather jarring background music at times, in Clive Donner's thriller with John Bentley ever reliable as Supt Wills
Edgar Wallace Menu
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The Share Out (1962)
Quite a sylish thriller about a business consortium who 'offer' to buy an MP's Mayfair property for £50,000. Even in them days that was rather cheap, as the place is worth at least £150,000 declares the honourable member. But on being shown some rather dishonourable photos he agrees to the £50,000.
Bernard Lee is back playing Superintendent Meredith again. He's been on the trail of the Calderwood gang for three years, but what victim wants to squeal and expose himself? One of the employees of Colonel Calderwood (Alexander Knox) is about to grass, so he's quickly silenced. A replacement is found in private investigator Mike (William Russell), and Meredith persuades him to be his new informer, for a consideration of course. But will Mike find the lure of the criminals' money a more attractive proposition? He certainly finds one of the Calderwood gang, Diane Marsh (Moira Redmond) pretty alluring! The Colonel gives Mike his first assignment for the firm- check on Diane, a most agreeable task!
Meredith meanwhile has visited the gang of four who work this blackmail racket. He attempts to play off each against the other. "If any of you wants to get in touch, " he tells them hopefully, "my phone number is Whitehall 1-2-1-2." There's an atmosphere of "mutual distrust" at Calderwood's- should they share out the half million pounds of diamonds now, or carry on? It's decided to continue.
Mike continues his "business with pleasure" and is offered £10,000 by another partner Crewe (Richard Vernon), or even 25% of the total, if he helps him get the Whole Share Out. But "can I trust you?" Crewe asks Mike. All the group are getting the jitters.
But then there were three, one partner is killed. Mike makes a rendezvous with the remaining partners at 35 Cable Yard, Shoreditch, with Meredith holding a watching brief. As Mike plays one off against the other there are gunshots. "That's the end of Calderwood Properties," smiles Meredith, as he walks in too late to prevent the killings. Yet he has one card up his own sleeve!
Edgar Wallace
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Flat Two (1962)
"You don't need a licence to shoot vermin," Frank Leamington (Jack Watling) tells his fiance Susan (Ann Bell), who's in debt to the tune of £10,000 to said Vermin, Louba, owner of a casino. "Astonishing how it mounts up," she had admitted to Louba earlier. His proposition was she could pay off the debt by accompanying him to the South of France.
When Louba gets a letter threatening to kill him, a policeman commits a sacking offence by remarking "I wish whoever did the best of luck!" Louba approaches Warden, a barrister friend (John le Mesurier), for advice.
You don't need to be a brain surgeon to work out Louba's going to be killed.
But whodunnit?
Warden had visited him in his apartment at 9.30pm to discuss the letter. However as Louba wasn't there, Warden couldn't see him.
Charlie (Barry Keegan), Louba's old business partner who married Louba's ex girl friend, broke into the flat to steal £6,000.
Frank, the architect of the flats, entered via the back route to demand Susan's IOU's back.
Warden returns to the flat about 10.10pm with his policeman friend to find Louba dead in the bathroom.
On the case is Dt Insp Trainer (Bernard Archard), a quick witted detective who soon works out what Frank had been up to. "I told you they were splendid!" confides Frank to Susan. That's just before he's arrested.
The tale moves to Frank's trial. He's defended by Warden who says "I know he's not guilty." Charlie's testimony proves crucial- that blackmailing letter he had sent and subsequently burnt is enough to get Frank freed. Trainer is thanked: "noone has ever tried to get me hanged with greater courtesy or consideration!"
The story concludes with Insp Trainer reconstructing the crime and the fairly self evident solution is revealed, a motive suddenly exposed
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Number Six (1962)
Cat and mouse between Scotland Yard (Michael Goodliffe) and con man Charles Valentine. He's suspected of numerous crimes, but nothing ever proved. The main fascination of the film is in guessing who is the undercover agent, codename Number Six, assigned to bring Charles Valentine to justice.
Could it be new butler Welland (Leonard Sachs), whom we meet helping Valentine move into his posh London address?
Or is it old friend Miss Clyde, a singer?
Or perhaps Jimmy Gale who helps Valentine at Miss Clyde's nightclub when a waiter attacks him. He disposes of the corpse for Valentine.
Then there's Jimmy's friend Nadia (Nadja Regin) whom Valentine is attracted to.
Supt Hallett keeps his watching brief. "Psychological warfare" as Hallett lets Valentine know that Hallett has set a watch. Who is it?asks Charles. "Number Six" is the enigmatic reply.
Certainly Welland isn't all he seems, as Valentine finds he's been snooping in his bureau. "I'm sacking your Number Six," he informs Hallett. But Welland later returns, with a gun, and Jimmy once again helps dispose of the body. He promises to help liquidate Nadia also, once she's coughed up the £100,000 she's promised to help Valentine clinch his latest venture.
Hallett warns Nadia, in Jimmy's presence, that Valentine is dangerous. He's been closely involved with the deaths of five women. But she doesn't believe him and accompanies him to his secret hideaway in the country. "I'm a dangerous person to know," Valentine warns her.
He is! He starts to suspect Jimmy is Number Six and some simple sleuthing proves Jimmy never killed that waiter. So Jimmy is drugged and with Number Six surely out of the way, Nadia again travels with Charles to his country retreat. But Jimmy has followed in his car and wants his share of the money, as he really is a criminal! Then a fight in which Valentine kills Jimmy. Enter Supt Hallet to make a simple arrest
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Playback (1962)
Barry Foster and Dinsdale Landen were two of the brightest young acting talents in the early 60's. Foster has a good role, playing David Hollis, in the dock, awaiting the jury's verdict. In a flashback we see how it all happened...
His friend Joe (Dinsdale Landen, a less well drawn part) helps him cover up when, as a constable on the beat, he misses a break-in. The reason- he's stayed a bit too long helping an attractive lady, Lisa, who'd been locked out of her mews house. Hollis becomes obsessed with her, even though she's married. They enjoy the high life at Stuart's Barn Country Club. Gambling and so forth. Manager Ralph (Nigel Green) reminds him he now owes £128. As he's failed to get promotion (unlike Joe), he's a bit short. "Would a quarter of a million do?" offers Lisa. She proposes David shoots her husband. Though he refuses, he has to concede when he's duffed up for not paying his £128 debt.
As an alibi they spend the night at the club. He prepares to slip out. "Don't worry," Lisa says. "I wish I was as cold about it as you seem to be," he replies. Posing as a policeman, he gains entry into Lisa's flat. One shot completes the task.
Next day David finds himself charged with murder! "Why did you do it?" Lisa asks him. Her story shocks David, she denies their staying the night at the club. The manager denies it too. When the murder weapon is discovered in David's lodgings, he decides to run away- in a police car!
The ending is rather drawn out. David Hollis finally emerges from his hideout and cycles (!) to Lisa's flat for his revenge. Of course Joe is on hand, to oversee his arrest.
Final scene is back in court as we hear the Verdict
To the Story List
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Solo for Sparrow (1962)
Last to lock up at Reynolds a jewellers shop, is old Miss Martin, who is followed on her homeward train to Harland. She never reaches home as the crooks bustle in to their car to steal the keys and help themselves to the safe. It all goes very smoothly, with the slight exception that the unfortunate Miss Martin dies.
"It's a case for Scotland Yard isn't it?" but local detective Inspector Sparrow (Glyn Houston) wants to pursue his own offbeat line of inquiry. However it's the man from the Yard who asks the most pertinent question: "would you trust an old lady to lock up?"
Sparrow has ten day's leave. But his idea of a holiday is try and solve this crime! At least he can do so without any interference from the Yard. He takes his girl friend, who calls him by the rather formal "Sparrow" to a posh country club, but it's not for her sake really, he's bent on following Reynolds (Anthony Newlands).
"Bending the law a little," he arranges for a minor crook to tap Reynolds' phone. A little more 'bending' as he calls Reynolds up anonymously claiming he knows all about the safe job. This certainly gets Reynolds "scared" and he contacts his confederates to come and discuss the situation at the Horse and Groom. But Reynolds never turns up as his wife, who obviously wears the pants, orders him to go out with her. The crooks realise what Sparrow has been up to and kidnap him. It looks like The End but he sets up a booby trap which kills his guard and gets away. But not far as there's a chase round a farmyard in an improbable gunfight. A defenceless chicken accounts for Barney (Michael Caine), before the police arrive slightly later than on cue to arrest the rest of the gang.
Glyn Houston helps make a fairly routine drama memorable. Good location scenes also
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The 20,000 Pound Kiss (1962)
Michael Goodliffe stars as Sir Harold Trevitt QC MP who enters a neighbour's flat when he's told there's an intruder. However no sign of anyone, and he gets a kiss (of thanks?) from the wife of the owner, Maxine (Dawn Addams).
By a strange coincidence Paula Blair, the maid, happens to photograph the event and blackmail to the tune of £5,000 is requested. As Maxine's husband Leo is a very jealous man, she doesn't feel she can tell him. So Sir Harold consults a
private detective, John Durran (Richard Thorp, fresh from Emergency Ward 10).
The blackmail money is handed over, and then we see what it's all about: Leo is also at the maid's flat. As he says it's "The Case of a Man Blackmailing His Own Wife."
Durran enlists the help of Inspector Waveney (Alfred Burke) at Scotland Yard. Police files show the maid has been suspected of being involved in this racket before, though noone came forward to admit anything. Durran comments to the
inspector: "if I can just find who the accomplice is....." He predicts there will be more demands for money and he's proved correct. Another £5,000. Sir Harold borrows a pistol of Leo's this time, but finds the maid already dead.
He's obviously the prime suspect, so Durran tells him to leave before he calls the police. He's puzzled as to why the maid was shot at least an hour before Sir Harold Trevitt went to see her. "A clever man would have shot just before Trevitt got there."
Waveney and Durran are in agreement that Leo must be the accomplice, but why would he kill her? Leo meanwhile, is asking £10,000 from Sir Harold
to keep it quiet about the pistol that was borrowed. Next Maxine, who's falling for Durran just to complicate things, finds yet another body. It's Leo, with Trevitt, as is customary, crouched over the corpse - "he was trying to blackmail me," he tells her. True.
"You weren't here," is her response. However there is a condition to this statement, yet more money, this time an even larger sum, £15,000.
Sir Harold, as a side plot, is getting married. On his wedding day the police send him a polite message to call in at Maxine's on the way to the nuptials. With Durran, Waveney summarises the plot so far, with one new twist - proof as to who did the murders.
A confusing explanation follows in which director John Moxey seems to want to send up the whole plot
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Incident at Midnight (1962)
Vince Warren (William Sylvester) chats up the wife of Eric Leichner (Anton Diffring) whilst Leichner makes a million with girl friend Vanessa. But when they fall out, she winds up dead.
The main action, if it can be called that, is at an all night chemists where disgraced Dr Schroder (Martin Miller) wiles away the hours. He recognises Leichner from the old days and believes he's an imposter.
Arriving at the chemists is a badly injured man, in need of "patching up." Although struck off, Schroder agrees to help- "it's not going to be easy," he admits. Of course the man and his friends are criminals- they have stolen £50,000, killing a security guard in the process. They close up the chemists, but Leichner manages to break in. He's come for the Key, only one of the crooks has passed it to the wrong person. The police arrive in the shape of Inspector Macready (Peter Howell) to find Leichner shot dead- "the party's just warming up!"
The Key is passed to Warren, who's actually a US narcotics agent. It opens a locker where the stolen money has been hidden. There's a final shootout at the chemists and a chase down an underground escalator with £50,000 showering downwards in the only memorable moment in a story which despite its strong cast is slow moving and frankly awful
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Return to Sender (1962)
"I'm a police officer," announces John Horsley for what must have been the thousandth time. He's arresting Dino (Nigel Davenport) and just he was was leaving the country too.
Dino faces seven years for a £250,000 fraud. Prosecuting lawyer Robert Lindley (Geoffrey Keen) needs to be "fixed": "stop Lindley," Mike (William Russell) is ordered, "I don't care how you do it." In a nicely oblique interview in Davenport's best growling voice, Dino tells Mike "I don't want Lindley scratched from the card. I want him to run. But I want him lame."
But Lindley is a man of integrity. Lisa Maxwell who used to work for Dino could prove an invaluable witness. Against his better judgement, Lindley goes to her flat where a camera, operated by Mike, records his unintentional proximity to Miss Maxwell. A little doctoring completes the job and Mike travels to Lindley's riverside bungalow at Wraysbury with his photo. Now we learn why Mike is so keen on this job- it's because Lindley had put him away. But Mike is slightly deflected from his task by Beth, Lindley's daughter: "you're very sweet, Mike." She has her own agenda.
Mike's plan is for Lisa to go at night to the bungalow. Mike will start a fire and the press will arrive and an "affair" between Lisa and the lawyer will soon be in all the gossip columns. But Mike "can't see what's coming to him" as Dino is only using him. What Mike doesn't know is that Lisa is really Dino's wife. At least Lindley discovers this in time and realises his star witness couldn't possibly testify.
But there's another twist as Dino puts his own plan into action. Improbably, I must say, he's been having it off with Beth and has persuaded her Mike must be silenced. After a resume of the plot, to clarify, possibly, everyone's motives it dawns on Mike "you're a sick man, Dino." There's a moment of truth as Lindley returns home.
There's one twist too many in this story with clean-cut William Russell, no doubt trying to get away from his typecasting, not entirely convincing as a scheming villain
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Ricochet (1963)
In thick snow Citroen 451 XPP drives up to Oakwood Cottage. Alighting is Yvonne (Maxine Audley), and she's watched from the shrubbery by a stranger. She gets her husband to phone Ashtead police.
Later Alan is at the ice rink talking to John, whom Alan knows has had an affair with his wife. He wants John to blackmail her for £200. This is only for starters however, as Alan pays for John's room in the nearby Swan Hotel where he shoots John! Only blanks though. The idea is John has to goad Yvonne into thinking she's killed him, then more blackmail can follow.
It all works a treat and John is indeed shot. With real bullets as we've rather guessed. Yvonne returns home to find the police waiting. Alan blurts out a half-hearted confession. But Yvonne has to admit she killed John, even though it was an accident.
Now it's Alan's turn for a shock. "You've been expecting me," Peter Dexter (Dudley Foster) tells him. He was John's partner and knows all about Alan's scheme. He's even got a tape recording of them hatching the plot- cough up £5,000.
Next day, Alan meets Peter at the ice rink. Alan gets the tape recording back and produces a gun. But the police swoop. Peter explains his "conscience" got the better of him and he felt he had to call the police. Or maybe, it was Yvonne's £10,000 that persuaded him.
A tale with plenty of nice twists. Maxine Audley is largely wasted
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The Rivals (1963)
Along a peaceful suburban street, with no moving cars in sight, car thieves steal a Ford Consul. Inside they find a package with the note "Christina safe. £75,000 if you want to see her again." Newspapers are full of the story of the disappearance of Miss Nielsen, heiress of a Swedish industrialist. The thieves, Steve and Teddy, decide to get the ransom for themselves and send Nielsen instructions for payment. Nielsen with his secretary have to follow a prescribed route to Wimbledon Golf Course where the money is deposited in a hut. After checking the loot, Nielsen is informed where to find his daughter. All very straightforward, except the address of 12 Barham Road Raynes Park is that of his secretary! At home she discovers the real kidnappers, Paul and Alex, have, not unnaturally, moved their prize, but she knows where. and whizzes off to a houseboat. Nielsen has followed and is reunited with his darling.
Paul had traced the breakers yard from where Steve operates and is at his home to await them and their loot. In the ensuing kerfuffle Paul gets shot, so does Teddy, as the crooks fall out.
Perhaps rather a predictable finale but the plot is more complex than we have described and is directed with pace by old hand Max Varnel
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The Partner (1963)
Wayne Douglas Studio's star actress Lin (Yoko Tani) unknowingly aids her employees in a tax dodge when Bryers the accountant pays her in cash - £2,000. When he's electrocuted in her flat she runs away. The body is discovered later in the studio tank.
Was director Wayne (Guy Doleman) her partner? His wife suspects he's having an affair with Lin, but Webb (Mark Eden) a private investigator has not found any evidence of it.
Investigating, the police (Ewan Roberts) find Lin and she admits Bryers had been at her flat, but he'd left about midnight, the time of his death. The studio is an hour away from her home. Wayne confirms he saw Bryers leave the flat just before twelve. But "he couldn't have driven himself - he was dead."
Wayne retains the private eye to find out who Lin's accomplice is. He believes she was planning some sort of swindle. He pays Webb £1,000 for him to get back the £2,000 cash. He arranges for Lin to come for a studio test so Webb can search her flat. But Wayne is shot, thankfully not fatally.
By now we have been shown who's behind it all.
This is not very exciting, with unconvincing characters. It says it all if I say I found the most interesting parts were the incidental views of Merton Studios
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Five to One (1963)
Which is the best film in the Wallace series? This must be a strong candidate.
Roger Marshall's story begins at a posh country club where John Thaw and Lee Montague discuss a £60,000 robbery. At Larry's (LM) usual rate of 5-1 that means Alan Roper will be paid £12,000 of the "most anonymous money you ever saw."
We see Roper's meticulous plans: 1. Blackmail. An insurance worker is forced to reveal information about Larry himself.
2. Disable the burglar alarm at Larry's betting shop. Mate John does this part of the operation.
3. John buys some 'plastic' at Elmbrook Garage.
Yes, the £12,000 that Larry is collecting as payment is, as Roper explains, "so we can rob Him."
After doctoring the milk bottles on Larry's smart doorstep, Alan and John find Larry and his wife later that night nicely drugged. Whilst the married couple doze in bed ("wonder if it was the sleeping pills or the television"), the bedroom safe is opened and an impression of his keys is taken.
Then a dummy raid on the betting shop to persuade Larry to keep the £12,000 payoff in his safe at home. All very subtle and complex, so no wonder John wants to make it all a lot simpler!
The night for the robbery. But the best laid plans etc, and Larry's wife is unexpectedly at home. She's tied up and can only watch whilst Alan and John open the safe. It doesn't open. Larry's been ultra-careful and changed the combination that they had taken so much pains to learn!
Consternation. Alan devises a new plan.
Larry returns home in his flash sports car and checks his safe. At this point he's bashed on the head and the safe is finally emptied of its contents. But the crooks never get away, the police are waiting. They had made one fatal slip
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Downfall (1963) "Not guilty" is the verdict in the The L-Plate Murder Case, the accused Martin Somers (TP McKenna) "defended by a genius" Sir Harold Crossley (Maurice Denham). He's a brilliant lawyer who married "haphazard" Suzanne (Nadja Regin) only to further his career. She's got admirers in plenty, but a divorce wouldn't suit Sir Harold at all.
Many people believe Somers is guilty despite the verdict: "Somers is dangerous" warn both police and psychiatrist.
So why is Sir Harold giving Martin Somers a "fresh start" employing him under a new name as chauffeur and general handyman? Not that Suzanne is told his identity, she's merely informed "he's at your disposal"(!) Soon she's making eyes at him.
Sir Harold has to travel to the Dorset Assizes, hoping for a bit of fun with Miss Meldrum his junior. Suzanne is left behind at home, alone with Somers, who'd been warned of the danger of burglars, but they can be scared off with Sir Harold's gun!
Whilst Harold's plan collapses, she's already enjoying a kiss in the cellar, and now they're drinking champagne by the low light of the fire. Harold returns home, worried rather late in the day what he's started, there follows a struggle and a shot.
"Will you explain please?" the police question both men over Suzanne's dying body. Each accuses the other of the shooting. An eleventh hour twist and Suzanne's dying accusation concludes a tense drama
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The Verdict (1964)
This film asks the interesting question, can a British jury be fixed?
Deported from the USA, Joe Armstrong returns to England with his 'secretary' Carola. Greeting him is Larry Mason (Nigel Davenport) who Joe once helped beat a prison rap. Danny, known in London as King of the Underworld (Paul Stassino) is told by Joe he will have to "abdicate."
However police also want to meet Joe. He's wanted in connection with the death of Harmsworth who died as long as 24 years ago, just before, in fact, Joe left here for the States. Joe knows he's guilty and that the police have the evidence to prove it. Larry can repay that favour when Joe is put on trial. "Money talks anywhere" so can Larry fix the jury? Larry is doubtful but devises an ingenious scheme to intercept summons to jury members and then produce his own panel of jurors.
As expected Joe is arrested so Larry swings his plan into action. Danny offers to look after Joe's "business interests" while he's out of circulation and Larry has to do a deal with him after Carola is snatched. A mail van is relieved of its summons to jurors and Larry prepares his own jury, but Danny gets wind of the scheme and demands £50,000.
Joe agrees to write a cheque, to cash, for Danny, but now Larry gets greedy. By chance one of the prospective jurors, Phillips-Greene, happens to be a client of his business, and he is in financial difficulties. In return for having these problems solved, Phillips-Greene agrees to leave the country immediately. Then the summons are returned to the mail system and Danny has no more hold over Joe and Larry. "Everything's going as planned," Larry informs Carola.
Now it's Joe's trial. The jury troop in, the one named Phillips-Greene looks amazingly like Larry Mason! Then the jury retire to consider their verdict. The foreman, P-G himself, gives it- the verdict is Guilty! Joe is sentenced to be hanged.
Larry's OK though, he has that £50,000 cheque to cash. He flies off to South America. Carola catches up with him on the way to the airport, and wants her share.
"Just one moment, sir," policemen intercept Larry at the airport. Unfortunately the cash strapped P-G is wanted for fraud and isn't Larry P-G? A nice final twist
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Act of Murder (1964)
Interesting opening titles (no Edgar's bust) with a gradually opening door that slams shut at the conclusion of the opening titles. An absorbing story that can't quite reach a satisfactory conclusion.
Ex-actress Ann Longman (Justine Lord) is a "garden-loving housewife in ye olde country cottage." With husband Ralph (Anthony Bate) she swaps homes for a holiday in London W1, so she can enjoy seeing some plays in town. Tim (John Carson) is keen for her to do more than watch them, he wants her to return to acting in them.
The Petersens (Duncan Lewis and Dandy Nichols) are the couple the Longmans have swapped with- and it's on rather beneficial terms to the former. As soon as they arrive they ransack the home of its antiques. But their plans go awry when Tim calls. He's suspicious and we next see him waiting for the Longman's to return....
The address in John's Street proves to be false. They return home fearing the worst, but everything is untouched and no sign of the Petersens. They do find Ann's plants all poisoned and Zipper the dog is missing. "Weird," declares Ann. What does it mean? "I have a feeling," continues Ann, "whatever it was, they've already done it." Next morning they find all their chickens dead. And Zipper. And their budgie. When Tim's informed he thinks it "voodooish." He claims he never actually met the Petersens.
Ann becomes more and more withdrawn and leaves for "mummy." But really it's Tim. Though they've nothing to hide, Tim wants there to be!
Ralph does some detecting and finds the fence to whom the Petersens had originally planned to sell the Longman's antiques. On his premises is a gravestone with the name of Petersen. Ralph forces him to admit they had all planned the robbery, but "this bloke" had stopped them in their tracks and killed Petersen.
Even Ralph can work this one out. Arriving at Tim's flat he discovers his wife is now "a fallen woman." "Ralph, I didn't," she begins but he's too busy chasing after Tim.
The film's clever-clever finish doesn't convince me
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Face of a Stranger (1964)
A gritty thriller directed by John Moxey.
Vince (Jeremy Kemp) and Johnny (Philip Locke) are prison mates.
When the latter loses some of his remission just prior to his release, Vince agrees to explain to John's blind wife Mary (Rosemary Leach), who's been waiting for him to get out and collect the loot he's stashed away. "I've never had a friend like you," beams a grateful Johnny.
He wouldn't be so pleased if he could see Vince on the outside.
He's travelled down to Mary's isolated Parkedge Cottage. She hears him whistling as he walks up to his house and gets so thrilled she's nearly run over by a passing vehicle. Vince has to save her, and when he comes to, he realises she believes he's her husband. Gradually they become more than 'friends.' However local landowner Michael Forrest (Bernard Archard) rumbles him saying he looks nothing like his photo! Even Mary admits prison's changed him. Vince suggests a change of home, as the inevitable is about to happen- Johnny's coming out.
Vince meets him outside the jail and the too-trusting Johnny goes with Vince to Waterloo where the loot is stashed away in a locker. Then, in a lonely place, it is of course the end of the road for Johnny as his body is destroyed in a petrol soaked car that is pushed over the proverbial cliff.
With the stolen cash, Vince returns to Mary. Surely all is now rosy, but it's Vince who gets a nasty surprise. He's not the only one who's been cheating! It's all part of the evil plan of Forrest to get the cash, with Mary's connivance. There's a gunshot and Vince is left alone with Mary for the final showdown of the real truth. Or, as Pilate once asked, what is the truth?
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Never Mention Murder (1964)
Nicely done titles, but this Robert Banks Stewart script has no connection with Edgar Wallace.
Honeymoon Island (or is it Folkestone?) has some new arrivals, one is tailing Tony and Liz (Maxine Audley trying to do an Audrey Hepburn). The private detective Carstairs takes his photos and tape recording to Liz's doctor husband (Dudley Sutton).
Tony Sorbo is the hotel entertainer, he does a mind reading act with Zita his wife (Pauline Yates).
Dr Teasdale is a top heart surgeon, whilst Liz spends her spare time painting, that is when she's not snogging with Tony.
Having been told of his wife's infidelity, our unhippocratic doctor introduces some foreign powder into Tony's anti-smoking tablets. Tony collapses in the middle of his act. Teasdale just happens to be on call, so rushes on the scene- "we'll give you something to help you sleep," he tells Tony. To Zita he adds "an operation may be necessary." Of course it is. He says he has to insert a cardiac catheter. So in Theatre No 3 it's on with the surgical gloves, and we all know what he's preparing to do next. But an unscheduled batch of students appear to watch him at work, so Teasdale announces after a lot of poking about, "I want to take a closer look in a few days." No doubt when less eyes are upon him.
Re-enter the private eye who asks Zita if she'd like to buy his dossier on Tony. When Carstairs the detective gets the whole picture he has "a little chat" with his earlier client Teasdale, demanding £1,000 for starters. But afters for Carstairs is a dose of chloroform. The car he's been driving is then pushed over the cliff. He's inside.
Troubles never come singly and now it's Zita Sorbo who's giving Liz a few eyeopeners about her husband's activities. As Operation 2 starts, a policeman (Philip Stone) enters the theatre- Stop the Operation is sort of what he says, though he says it more staidly: "I have reason to believe the patient is in danger." But he'll be in a worse fix if Teasdale doesn't continue with the operation. Under the watchful eyes of the law, what can go wrong? Plenty for Dr Teasdale...
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Game for Three Losers (1965)
Slow moving plot that could have just filled a half hour slot. Edgar (Lustgarten this time) is the original writer of this story which inevitably ends in the courtroom.
A prominent businessman Robert Hillary MP (Michael Gough) appoints a new secretary Miss Challoner (Toby Robins). But instead of dictation they are soon enjoying a kiss. However he's already married and she has a "layabout" boyfriend (Mark Eden) who approaches Hillary claiming his girlfriend is "upset" after the pair spend an innocent time together at her flat with some more 'dictation.' "She didn't want to play your game," Hillary is told. To avoid any damaging publicity if Hillary sues Miss Challoner for telling lies about him, it is suggested £100 might help. A very modest demand but of course that's only for "starters," as Hillary soon finds after reluctantly paying the extortionist.
It's "the big one," Miss Challoner is told and after £300 has been handed over, Hillary has to consult his solicitor, who arranges for the ex-secretary to be caught with the blackmail money and she's sent for trial. Hillary appears as "Mr X" and all appears to be working out favourably for the MP. However a plea of Not Guilty is made despite Challoner's lawyer urging against such an action: "I don't want leniency, I want justice."
At the Old Bailey anonymity to the MP is surprisingly not granted: "I've never known it happen before," Hillary's lawyer ruefully comments.
There follows the overlong trial. Hillary realises his career is ruined even though he never actually molested his secretary. It's an early lesson for MPs to be squeaky clean, topical in the light of the Profumo scandal in Parliament. A few of today's MPs might well watch this film rather uneasily
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Dead Man's Chest (1965)
with John Thaw
Johnnie and Dave plan an "exciting giggle" to expose the dangers of circumstantial evidence, but mostly to get themselves press publicity. Johnnie is to hide himself in a large chest for a few minutes after they stage a fake murder, but their scheme goes awry when the Vanguard Estate in which Dave places the chest is stolen by a gang for using in a bank getaway.
"A man is going to suffocate," shouts a desperate Dave to the police. But they have had enough of his gimmicky stunts and don't believe him, until, that is, "neanderthal" Inspector Briggs (John Collin) spots some blood in Dave's flat. But where has Johnnie disappeared to? What starts as a promising story deteriorates into "a very interesting case," at least that's what Dave's solicitor (Geoffrey Bayldon) calls it. For me, the story drags on and on, until the crooks read all the newspaper publicity about the missing chest and claim a reward for its discovery. The chest is opened by Inspector Briggs- empty except for a large statue.
Going to Wales, Dave's wife manages to track down Johnnie, who claims he was keeping in hiding as part of their gimmick. So he never got into that chest and Dave ends up a wiser man. "What was it all for?" Johnnie asks him. "Good question," replies Dave. No comment, I say.
Thus the series rather sadly ended on a low. Possibly this story is only of interest for a good support cast that also includes Peter Bowles as a crook with a very high pitched voice and Graham Crowden as a brusque Scottish newspaperman
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